The Premier League’s £10m Sorare Problem: Why NCA Freezing Order Matters

The money is connected to the Premier League's former partnership with Sorare, the crypto-based fantasy football platform that is also facing prosecution from the Gambling Commission over allegations that it provided gambling facilities in the UK without the required licence.

The Premier League itself is not suspected of wrongdoing. However, the league is now seeking to challenge the terms of the freezing order in court, putting an unusual football-business dispute at the centre of a wider regulatory investigation.

The frozen sum is reported to be £10,024,041.33 and was held in a Barclays account belonging to the Football Association Premier League Limited. The NCA obtained the freezing order under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The agency says the purpose of the order is to prevent the money from being moved or dissipated while investigators examine whether the funds could be connected to alleged third-party criminality.

Why was the Premier League paid £120m by Sorare?

The money comes from a major commercial agreement announced between the Premier League and Sorare in 2023.

The partnership was worth approximately £120 million over four years, with Sorare receiving rights connected to digital player cards featuring footballers from all 20 Premier League clubs.

Sorare's fantasy football platform allows users to build teams using digital cards representing real players, with competitions based on those players' performances in actual matches.

The commercial relationship was designed to give supporters another way to interact with Premier League clubs and players.

However, the partnership has since come under scrutiny because of Sorare's separate legal battle with Britain's gambling regulator.

What is Sorare accused of?

The Gambling Commission charged Sorare in 2024 with providing facilities for gambling without an operating licence, contrary to the Gambling Act 2005.

Sorare disputes that interpretation.

The company argues that its fantasy football product is fundamentally based on skill and decision-making rather than chance, meaning it should not fall under Britain's gambling regulations. The legal proceedings remain ongoing, with the trial now scheduled for June 2027 after previously being postponed.

That distinction is crucial because the NCA investigation into the frozen Premier League funds is separate from the Gambling Commission prosecution.

There has been no finding that the Premier League committed an offence.

The Premier League is fighting the freezing order

The league's position is particularly important to the story.

Although more than £10m connected to the Sorare partnership has been frozen, the Premier League is not itself accused of criminal wrongdoing.

The league is instead going to court seeking changes to the conditions of the freezing order. The current order is understood to run until September 14.

That means the immediate issue is not whether the Premier League is being prosecuted, but whether the authorities can continue restricting access to money that investigators believe may potentially be relevant to their investigation.

Why this matters for football's crypto boom

The case also highlights the growing regulatory scrutiny surrounding cryptocurrency businesses and professional football.

Crypto companies have increasingly used football sponsorships and partnerships to reach huge audiences, benefiting from the trust and visibility associated with major clubs and competitions.

The Financial Conduct Authority has warned football organisations about the risks of unauthorised financial firms using football's popularity and supporters' loyalty to promote products and services.

The Sorare case therefore extends beyond one £10m payment.

It raises a bigger question over how football authorities assess the regulatory risks of commercial partners before attaching their brands to emerging financial and crypto businesses.

What happens next?

There are now several separate strands to watch.

1. The NCA investigation: Authorities will continue examining whether the frozen funds have any connection to alleged third-party criminality.

2. The court battle: The Premier League is seeking to alter the terms of the freezing order.

3. Sorare's prosecution: The Gambling Commission case remains unresolved, with a trial scheduled for 2027.

4. The end of the partnership: Sorare's four-year Premier League agreement has now reached the end of its stated term following the 2025/26 season. Sorare has stressed that the contract expired at the end of its agreed term.

For now, the key takeaway is simple: more than £10 million from a major Premier League-Sorare commercial deal has been frozen while investigators examine its potential connection to alleged criminal activity.

That does not mean the Premier League is accused of wrongdoing — but it puts one of football's most prominent crypto partnerships under an intense legal spotlight.